CD Article: Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, 2001-2006

[CD_Editor]

You may discuss our cover story of the day in this thread....
Used Vehicle Review:


Though very popular, the fourth generation of Chrysler's minivans have had some reliability issues relating to transmissions, brakes, and climate controls, reports Contributing Editor, Chris Chase.  Still, a well-maintained Chrysler minivan can be a good buy, says Chase, particularly as they are relatively cheap when compared to Japanese competitors in the used minivan market.   More...

[banfield]

If “meticulous maintenance” (the term used in this article) means changing your tranny fluid every 50,000 km using only Mopar-brand fluid, then I could claim I’m meticulous.  However, if you saw the state of my home office, an example of entropy in overdrive, you’d snicker right along with my wife. I followed the 50,000 km Mopar fluid change procedure with my ‘94 Caravan and never had problem in 12 years of driving. On an auto repair TV show I watch, the owner of Wolfe Transmission recently said he drives a Caravan partly because its transmission design is so good.  I’m suspicious of Consumer Reports ratings (a Google search shows that I’m not alone). I suspect CR doesn’t weight for the fact that Caravans vastly outsell other makes.  Naturally they’d receive more Caravan complaints –  the Caravan population base is so much larger. Moreover, Honda and Toyota owners may under-report problems.  They likely believe that since they have the mark of the holy grail on their grilles, most of the things that go wrong must be minor glitches, even if they cost the moon to fix because Japanese OEM parts are so expensive.

[R-Spec]

These vans are garbage, there is no question. 3/3 people I know who used to own these things had major issues. 2 had bad transmissions and the other one sheared off the input shaft while waiting in line at a drive thru. The shaft was faulty but Chrysler wouldnt admit anything so it was too bad for my friend. 2 of them had AC units go out twice. Oh yes, another friend with one of these crap mobiles had to replace the motor at 60k. So thats 4/4 with major issues. Sorry, they are truly crap which is typical of American vehicles. 

[mrthompson]

*groan*   

[billy2]

I have a 2001 Caravan and have had nothing but problems. Strut mount bearing, both power windows, fuel tank filler, power latch (hatch), sway bar bushings (replaced 5 times!), oxygen sensor, hood replaced because of rust (warranty), rad fan blowing fuses, rotors, air bag ring in steering wheel, etc, etc, etc. As a matter of fact the check engine light has just come on again !!

I have always kept this vehicle maintained and it currently has only 135 K. The fact is, if it didn't have so many problems, I would love this vehicle. I actually like the way it rides and drives. Every time I go into the dealer, they could care less with all the problems I have had............I'm just adding revenue to their Service Dept 

EDIT:
A day or two after I wrote this, the HVAC fan resistor blew. It is being replaced as we speak. Problems, problems, problems.......................................

[MATTHEW]

I have two friends that have Caravans, one 2001 with 150,000 the other a 2002 with more than 230,000 kms, and the only problem the fellow with 230,000 had was CV shaft replacement, which is quite normal actually. They are both quite reliable and better than my brother in law's 1998 Sienna, which had the engine blow at 180,000 kms!!! What the heck, engine sludge being the major culprit, luckily Toyota covered that, but only after about 3 months of arguing back and forth.  Please don't believe what you read at Consumers Reports, they are not weighted averages. For this reason, as someone else mentioned, any comparisons are irrelevant as the number of caravan owners is one average of 1.4 times the number of Sienna and Odyssey owners.  But I am glad that this website is finally recognizing that Toyota and Honda are no longer the paragons of perfection that they once were!  And to note, I have a 2002 Chrysler Neon with 105,000 kms, with absolutely no problems and I look forward to many many more! By this time, my 1999 Corolla LE, has had 2 front shocks replaced, wheel bearing replacement, heavy oil consumption when going more than 110 km/h and collapsed rear struts!!, and I BOUGHT IT NEW!!! So great, that my wife forces me to drive that POS, and she drives the Neon!!!

[Arthur Dent]

Without changing the tranny fluid (only with Mopar-brand fluid!!!) the tranny is a time bomb. I'd run away unless records show it to be done.

[Allen]

  run Very, very fast ...

I had a late 90's one .. went thorugh 2 trannies in 110K and had to fix the AC every spring..

Bought a 2001 Honda Odessey had it for 5 years not a problem, a far superior vechile.. my buddy has a 2005 Toyota Sienia, same thing rock solid..